Rowen trudged through the forest, the soft crunch of leaves underfoot the only sound for a while. The adrenaline from his encounter with the Ignivulp had faded, leaving a curious mix of exhaustion and exhilaration in its wake. He glanced at his hands, flexing his fingers as if expecting embers to dance across his palms again.
"So," he said aloud, breaking the silence. "That flame… It's mine now, right?"
"Indeed" Zoreth replied, his voice smooth and confident. "That little spark of power now resides within your mana core. Congratulations, you've taken your first step toward not being entirely useless."
Rowen snorted. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
"Oh, don't misunderstand" Zoreth continued. "It's a step, a very small, wobbly step. But still, progress."
Rowen smirked faintly, then hesitated. "Can you… use it? My powers, I mean?"
Zoreth was silent for a moment, and Rowen imagined the god scratching his chin in thought. "Haven't tried, to be honest. Sharing a body is still a novel experience for me, you see. Why do you ask?"
Rowen shrugged, though he knew Zoreth could sense his curiosity. "I just wondered. You're stuck in here, so what happens if we're in trouble? Can you help?"
"Interesting question." Zoreth mused. "In theory, I should be able to tap into your abilities, given our… unique arrangement. But theory and practice are two very different things."
"Want to give it a shot?" Rowen asked, more intrigued than anything else.
"Why not?" Zoreth said, his voice laced with amusement. "Worst-case scenario, nothing happens. Best-case scenario, I set a tree on fire. Either way, entertainment ensues."
Rowen rolled his eyes. "Just… don't burn down the forest, alright?"
"Fine, fine. Hold still."
Rowen stopped walking, his pulse quickening as he felt a strange sensation—like someone brushing against his thoughts, poking and prodding at the edges of his mind. It wasn't unpleasant, just… odd.
"Alright." Zoreth said. "Let's see if this works."
Rowen felt a sudden surge of warmth in his chest, followed by a flicker of heat in his palm. He looked down to see a small flame sputtering to life, dancing unsteadily across his skin.
"Ha!" Zoreth exclaimed, his delight evident. "I've still got it!"
Rowen blinked. "Wait, you did that?"
"Of course." Zoreth said smugly. "A god of greed knows how to take, after all. Borrowing a little spark from you is child's play."
The flame wavered, then flared briefly before fizzling out. Rowen felt the warmth fade, replaced by a faint tug of weariness.
"Though, I must admit" Zoreth added, "it's not quite as satisfying as wielding my own powers. Your body is… limiting."
Rowen frowned. "Limiting how?"
"Well, for one" Zoreth said, "your mana core is still weak, barely above the level of an ordinary villager at the red stage. Every element has its own flow, its own rhythm. You'll need to strengthen your core and attune yourself to the flame if you want to wield it properly."
Rowen absorbed this in silence as they resumed walking.
"But," Zoreth continued, his tone turning teasing, "it's cute that you think I'd need your help in a fight. I was a god, Rowen. I don't need your little ember to protect you."
"Yeah, well, you're not exactly a god anymore," Rowen shot back.
Zoreth chuckled. "Fair point. But don't worry, if I must stoop to using your mortal powers, I'll make sure it's for something suitably dramatic."
"Great," Rowen muttered. "Glad to know you'll only embarrass me in life-or-death situations."
"Cheer up. This is just the beginning. You've got potential, even if it's buried under layers of mediocrity."
"Gee, thanks."
They walked in silence for a moment, the forest thinning as they neared the clearing.
"Still" Zoreth said suddenly, his tone contemplative, "this could be… fun. Training you, testing the limits of what you can do. Perhaps there's hope for you yet, Rowen."
Rowen raised an eyebrow. "Hope for what?"
"For greatness" Zoreth said simply. "Or at least for not dying horribly the next time a magical beast crosses your path."
Rowen smirked despite himself. "I'll take what I can get."
"So, Zoreth," Rowen began, breaking the silence, "about this whole 'mana core' thing. How does it actually… grow?"
Zoreth's chuckle resonated in his mind, low and rich with amusement. "Ah, the eternal question. Growth, strength, power, mankind's obsession since the beginning of time. Fortunately for you, I'm feeling generous enough to enlighten you."
Rowen rolled his eyes but smirked faintly. "Can you skip the part where you make fun of me and just explain?"
"Fine, fine," Zoreth said, feigning exasperation. "In the simplest terms, your mana core grows naturally as you age, assuming you live an active life and aren't a complete dullard. It's like a flame, it burns brighter as it gathers fuel. For most people, the fuel is time and experience."
"Okay," Rowen said, nodding slowly. "So, it's like… getting stronger with practice?"
"Partially correct," Zoreth said, his tone turning more thoughtful. "But here's the truth: natural growth is slow, painfully so, and most people plateau well before reaching their potential. That's why you see so many villagers with barely a spark of power, they simply don't push themselves beyond the mundane and therefore stay at the red stage."
Rowen frowned. "So how do you push past that? How do you get stronger faster?"
"Ah" Zoreth said, a hint of mischief creeping into his voice. "Now we get to the fun part, the secret of true growth, known only to those with the ambition and intellect to discover it. Your mana core doesn't just feed on time and training; it thrives on understanding."
"Understanding?" Rowen repeated, tilting his head.
"Indeed" Zoreth said. "Your element fire, in your case, isn't just a tool or a weapon. It's an extension of you, a reflection of your individuality. The more you understand how it aligns with your nature, the deeper your connection becomes, and the stronger your mana core grows."
Rowen furrowed his brow. "So… I need to figure out what fire means to me?"
"Exactly." Zoreth said approvingly. "Fire can mean many things, passion, destruction, renewal. What does it mean to you? How does it resonate with your spirit, your identity? That's the question you must answer."
Rowen thought for a moment, his gaze distant. "And when I figure that out, what happens?"
Zoreth's voice grew quieter, almost reverent. "When you truly understand your element, when it becomes a part of you rather than just something you wield, your mana core evolves. That's how people rise through the ranks, from Human to Heroic, and eventually, to Divine. Each rank represents a deeper mastery, a more profound connection to your element."
Rowen's steps slowed as the weight of Zoreth's words sank in. "You were Divine, weren't you? Before… all of this?"
Zoreth hesitated, his usual glibness absent. "I was." he admitted, his tone unreadable.
"How did you do it?" Rowen asked, curious. "What was your journey like?"
Zoreth let out a dry laugh. "Nice try, boy. I'm not going to spoil the fun for you. Growth is a journey, not a checklist. If I tell you exactly how I did it, you'll spend your time chasing my path instead of finding your own. And trust me, that would be a waste."
Rowen sighed. "So, I'm on my own for this, huh?"
"Not entirely," Zoreth said, his voice softening. "I'll guide you, nudge you in the right direction when you're floundering. But the answers, the breakthroughs—they have to come from you. That's how you become more than just a boy with a sword and a borrowed flame."
Rowen glanced at his hands, flexing his fingers as if he could feel the fire coursing through him. "No pressure, then."
"None at all," Zoreth said cheerfully. "But don't worry. You've got potential, even if you're a little slow on the uptake."
"Thanks, I guess," Rowen muttered.
"Anytime." Zoreth replied, his tone smug. "Now, stop overthinking and focus on not tripping over roots. Calder's going to be thrilled to see what you've brought back."